Bournemouth determined to keep hold of Chelsea-linked star

Bournemouth are reportedly determined to keep hold of striker Callum Wilson this month, amidst interest from Chelsea.

Wilson has been impressive for the Cherries this season, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 20 league appearances so far.

The performances of the 26-year-old have even earned him a call-up to the England national side, and he scored on his Three Lions’ debut against the United States in November. In the process, he also became the first Bournemouth player to score for England.

Blues looking to add firepower

These performances have reportedly drawn interest from a number of sides, with the Blues emerging as favourites to tempt Wilson away from Dean Court.

Both Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata have been misfiring for Chelsea this term. While the Blues have plenty of quality in their squad, they lack a striker who can score goals on a regular basis. Manager Maurizio Sarri has been resorting to deploying Eden Hazard as a false-nine during recent weeks due to the inconsistency that has been shown by his attackers.

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Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola more or less confirmed that the West Londoners are interested in Wilson recently, when he said: “Callum is doing well and is of interest not only for us but for many.”

From a Bournemouth perspective, losing Wilson this month would be a major blow.

After Jermain Defoe was allowed to join Rangers on loan, manager Eddie Howe managed to sign Dominic Solanke for £19 million from Liverpool and also bring in Nathaniel Clyne from the Reds on loan. Even though Solanke is a quality player, he lacks experience at the highest level. Defoe’s departure also means that the Cherries are devoid of experienced options up front and so losing Wilson this month could be a huge blow.

The Cherries must do all that they can to keep their star striker this month.